Remember the story Horton Hears a Who? Dr. Seuss was pointing out the significance of all lives and that just because you don’t know of or choose to ignore the existence or disposition of others doesn’t mean they could or should be cast away.

“Not everything the eye sees should be spoken by the mouth.” Black Leopard Red Wolf by Marlon James

I’m quoting today and chose this one because it speaks to how people function in society. For the most part, people turn a blind eye to what is unpleasant or to what they believe doesn’t affect their lives. It is not a cruel position that is taken (at least I hope not), but a survival instinct that shields them from having to experience whatever difficulty or having the need to address any unpleasantness. “I don’t want to get involved” is spoken often. Though the message states that you should not always voice your opinion, I want to focus on what the eye sees but chooses inaction.

I had mentioned in another post about our senses working in conjunction with each other, in particular the eyes and ears. Just like turning a blind eye, the ears tend to become selective about what they hear. The practice of choosing not to see, hear, or speak on unpleasantness doesn’t necessarily shield anyone. This practice has even permeated into our households, where members are ignored because of some unpleasantness – like illness or behavior issues or abuse.

I for one am grateful for the Hortons who hear and advocate or find solutions.

We don’t have to be our brother’s keeper, but we should keep in mind that what bothers or affects a few eventually affects all. The butterfly effect is real – everyone and everything is affected by everyone else and everything else.